Premiership
TEAM NEWS – Stade Toulouse v Sale Sharks
Alex Sanderson says his team are up for the challenge of facing Toulouse as the Sharks Director of Rugby makes three changes to his starting line-up for the Heineken Champions Cup round two clash at the imposing Ernest Wallon Stadium on Sunday (KO 1pm UK time, live on BT Sport).
Sam Hill and Byron McGuigan replace the injured Manu Tuilagi (concussion protocol) and Joe Carpenter (hamstring), while Ben Curry returns to the matchday squad to take his place on the replacements bench along with recent signing Ryan Mills and fit-again Ewan Ashman.
The Sharks pack is unchanged from the 39-0 win against Ulster in round one of the competition. That means Sale line up with Bevan Rodd and Nick Schonert either side of hooker Akker van der Merwe in the front row.
They’re backed up by Cobus Wiese and Jonny Hill in the second-row and Jean-Luc du Preez, Tom Curry and Dan du Preez in the back-row.
Gus Warr and captain Rob du Preez team up again at half-back, while Sam James has a new centre partner in the imposing form of Sam Hill.
Tom O’Flaherty and Arron Reed provide the gas on the wings, and Byron McGuigan replaces the injured Joe Carpenter at full-back.
Scotland hooker Ashman returns to the replacements bench after a shoulder injury and he’ll provide front-row cover along with Si McIntyre and Joe Jones.
Jono Ross and Ben Curry cover the rest of the forwards, while Joe Simpson, Tom Curtis and Ryan Mills are the backs replacements.
Speaking ahead of the game, the Sharks Director of Rugby said his team were relishing the challenge of going up against some of the world’s best.
He said: “They’ve got the best attack and the most offloads in the Top 14 but we’ve got the best defence and the most dominant collisions in the Premiership at the moment. There are loads of fantastic battles all over the pitch.
“It’s a brilliant match-up for us and a chance to test ourselves against the best team in the Top 14, with some of the best players in the world. We want our lads to relish it and love it.
“It’s an exciting challenge. We’re ready and we’re right up for it.”
Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Byron McGuigan, 14. Arron Reed, 13. Sam James, 12. Sam Hill, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. Rob Du Preez ©, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Akker Van Der Merwe, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Jean-Luc Du Preez, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Daniel Du Preez
Replacements:
16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. Joe Jones, 19. Jono Ross, 20. Ben Curry, 21. Joe Simpson, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Ryan Mills.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that fly-half George Ford suffered a tear to his right quad during the early stages of the Gallagher Premiership round two game at Saracens on Saturday. Following a positive consultation with a specialist it was decided that George does not require surgery and he will now begin his rehab ahead of a busy period for club and country.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Alex Sanderson has made six changes to his starting XV to face Gloucester Rugby in the first game of the season under the Salford Stadium Friday night lights, while summer signing Le Roux Roets appears in a matchday squad for the first time (Discovery+, 7.45pm KO).
Josh Beaumont, Ernst van Rhyn and Rouban Birch come into the pack following the round two defeat at Saracens, while Sam Bedlow, Will Addison and Arron Reed are picked in the backs to face George Skivington’s men.
In total, 12 of the XV and 19 in the matchday 23 have come through or spent time in the Sharks Academy.
The Sharks front-row remains intact from the trip to the StoneX as England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up once again between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and loosehead Si McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Ben Bamber teams up with Josh Beaumont.
With Ben and Tom Curry as well as JL du Preez all missing as they undergo their return to play protocols following head injuries, Ernst van Rhyn returns alongside fellow flanker Sam Dugdale and Birch at number 8.
Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half but with George Ford injured (quad) he’ll have skipper Rob du Preez for company at half-back. After coming on as a replacement against Saracens, Bedlow starts alongside Addison, who makes his first start since re-joining the club in the summer.
Speedster Arron Reed makes his first appearance of the season alongside Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter.
Hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper cover the front row from the replacements bench with England U20s lock Tom Burrow and summer signing Le Roux Roets covering the rest of the forwards. Nye Thomas, Tom Curtis and Waisea Nayacalevu cover the backs.
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Will Addison, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Josh Beaumont 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Rouban Birch.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Le Roux Roets, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Waisea Nayacalevu.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Injuries have forced Alex Sanderson to make three changes to his starting XV to face Saracens at the StoneX on Saturday (3.05pm KO, Saturday 28th September, live on TNT Sports).
Si McIntyre replaces last week’s Player of the Match Bevan Rodd (hamstring), while Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale come in for Ernst van Rhyn and Tom Curry who are both undergoing their return to play protocols after leaving the field during the round one win over Harlequins.
With Sam Bedlow returning to the bench to make a 5-3 split, the matchday squad features 16 players who have come through or been involved with the Sale Sharks Academy.
In the front-row, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and returning loosehead McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Bamber teams up with Hyron Andrews.
Openside flanker Ben Curry captains the side again and he and Dugdale will pack down either side of Jean-Luc du Preez at number 8.
The backs are unchanged from the narrow win over Quins, with Gus Warr starting again at scrum-half alongside fly-half George Ford, and Rob du Preez and Waisea Nayacalevu outside them in the centres.
Alex has picked a familiar back three once again with Tom O’Flaherty, Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter hoping to provide the spark.
The replacements bench is an exclusively Sharks Academy affair with hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper covering the front row. Josh Beaumont and Rouban Birch make up the rest of the forwards, while Nye Thomas, Bedlow and Will Addison cover the backs.
Sale Sharks Starting lineup:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Rob du Preez, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Sam Dugdale, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Rouban Birch, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Will Addison.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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